Register to Vote

How and Where to Register

You will need to register whenever you move, change your name, or change your political party affiliation.

There are several convenient ways to register or re-register:

Register by Mail

You may call the Department of Elections office at (415) 554-4411 or email
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and they will mail a voter registration card to you.

Complete all required sections of the Voter Registration Card:

Fill out the Voter Registration Card using a dark ink pen

Use your legal name

If you live in an apartment, fill in the apartment number

Date of birth

Sign the Voter Registration Card before mailing

Note: Provide a residential mailing address--NOT a business address

Register On-line

Register in Person

You may pick up a voter registration card at the Department of Elections, local public library branches, some City and County offices, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and U.S. Postal Service stations.

If you need further assistance completing the voter registration card, please call the Department of Elections at (415) 554-4411.

Please note: Information on your voter registration affidavit will be used by elections officials to send you official information on the voting process, such as the location of your polling place and the issues and candidates that will appear on the ballot. Commercial use of voter registration information is prohibited by law and is a misdemeanor.

Voter information may be provided to a candidate for office, a ballot measure committee, or other person for election, scholarly, journalistic, political, or governmental purposes, as determined by the Secretary of State. Driver's license and social security numbers, or your signature as shown on your voter registration card, cannot be released for these purposes. If you have any questions about the use of voter information or wish to report suspected misuse of such information, please call the Secretary of State's Voter Protection and Assistance Hotline.

Certain voters facing life-threatening situations may qualify for confidential voter status. For more information, please contact the Secretary of State's Safe At Home program or visit the Secretary of State's Web site at www.ss.ca.gov.

Deadline to Register

To be eligible to vote in an upcoming election, a completed voter registration card must be postmarked no later that 15 days before Election Day.

Verifying Registration Status

After processing your registration form, the Department of Elections will mail a Voter Notification Card within three to four weeks. If you have NOT received a Voter Notification Card or wish to check your voting status, call the Department of Elections at (415) 554-4375.

The last 4 digits of your Social Security Number on your registration form.

If you do not have a California Driver's License, or California Identification card number or, a social security number, a unique identifying number will be assigned to you for registration purposes only.

Note: The Secretary of State’s office must validate the registrant’s identification number or last four digits of their Social Security number in order for the Department of Elections to place the registrant on the active voter roll.